Probiotics play a crucial role in colon cancer treatment by metabolizing prebiotics to generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Colon cancer patients are frequently propositioned to supplement with probiotics to enhance the conversion and utilization of prebiotics. Nevertheless, the delivery and colonization of probiotics is hindered by the harsh conditions of gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Here, we devised a straightforward yet potent modified prebiotic-based "shield" (Gelatin-Inulin, GI), employing dietary inulin and natural polymer gelatin crosslinked via hydrogen bonding for enveloping Lactobacillus reuteri (Lr) to formulate synbiotic hydrogel capsules (Lr@Gl). The GI "shield" serves as a dynamic barrier, augmenting the resistance of Lr to gastric acid and facilitating its bioactivity and adherence in the GIT, synergizing with Lr to elicit an anti-tumor effect. Simultaneously, Lr@GI demonstrates anti-tumor effects by depleting glutathione to release reactive oxygen species, accompanied by the activation of NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3), and the induction M1 macrophage polarization. Furthermore, Lr@GI can not only promote the recovery of intestinal barrier but also regulate intestinal flora, promoting the production of SCFAs and further exerting anti-tumor effect. Crucially, Lr@GI also potentiates the anti-tumor effect of 5-Fluorouracil. The construction and synergistic anti-tumor mechanism of synbiotic hydrogel capsules system provide valuable insights for gut microbial tumor therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture therapies are known for their effectiveness in treating a variety of gastric diseases, although the mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood. This study tested the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints Zhongwan (RN12) and Weishu (BL21) for managing gastric motility disorder (GMD) and investigated the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS: A GMD model was used to evaluate the impact of EA on various aspects of gastric function including the amplitude of gastric motility, electrogastrogram, food intake, and the rate of gastric emptying. Immunofluorescence techniques were used to explore the activation of spinal neurons by EA, specifically examining the presence of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB)-positive neurons and fibers emanating from acupoints RN12 and BL21. The stimulation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn, the inhibition of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal lateral horn, and their collective effects on the activity of sympathetic nerves were examined. RESULTS: EA at RN12 and BL21 significantly improved gastric motility compromised by GMD. Notably, EA activated spinal neurons, with CTB-positive neurons and fibers from RN12 and BL21 being detectable in both the dorsal root ganglia and the spinal dorsal horn. Further analysis revealed that EA at these acupoints not only stimulated GABAergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn but also suppressed sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal lateral horn, effectively reducing excessive activity of sympathetic nerves triggered by GMD. CONCLUSION EA treatment at RN12 and BL21 effectively enhances gastric motility in a GMD model. The therapeutic efficacy of this approach is attributed to the activation of spinal neurons and the modulation of the spinal GABAergic-sympathetic pathway, providing a neurobiological foundation for the role of acupuncture in treating gastric disorders. Please cite this article as: Zhang MT, Liang YF, Dai Q, Gao HR, Wang H, Chen L, Huang S, Wang XY, Shen GM. A spinal neural circuit for electroacupuncture that regulates gastric functional disorders. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 56-65.
Electroacupuncture ; Animals ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Stomach Diseases/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Rats ; Gastric Emptying ; Neurons ; Spinal Cord ; Stomach/physiopathology*

Objective To analyze the characteristics and malignancy of red-patch like lesion(RPL)during cystoscopy,and to explore the significance of RPL biopsy.Methods Clinical data of patients who had RPL detected in our hospital during Jan.2019 and Jun.2023 were retrospectively analyzed,including gender,age,cause of examination,presence of scars,complications and biopsy pathology.The patients were divided into the benign and malignant groups,and their clinical and RPL characteristics were analyzed.Results A total of 521 cases of RPL were enrolled including 416(79.8％)benign cases,and 105(20.2％)malignant cases.The averae age of the malignant group was higher than the benign group's[(66.8±12.2)years vs.(62.8±12.9)years,P=0.005].The malignant detection rate of RPL in postoperative follow-up patients,those with hematuria and those with lower urinary tract symptoms was 23.7％(92/389),19.6％(9/46),4.7％(4/86),respectively.According to direct observation and experience,the detection rate of pathological malignancy in the three groups of patients with high suspicion of RPL malignancy,mild suspicion of RPL malignancy and high probability of benign was 56.9％(37/65),37.0％(30/81)and 10.1％(38/375),respectively.Conclusion Once RPL is detected during cystoscopy,active biopsy should be performed.For elderly male patients undergoing postoperative follow-up,RPL biopsy is particularly important,especially when the lesion is located on or near the scar surface.

PURPOSE: The International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula's definition of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) has recently been updated. This study aimed to identify risk factors for POPF in patients having pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and to generate a nomogram to predict POPF. METHODS: Data on 298 patients who underwent PD from March 2012 to October 2017 was retrospectively reviewed and POPF statuses were redefined. A nomogram was constructed using data from 220 patients and validated using the remaining 78 patients. Independent risk factors for POPF were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. A predictive nomogram was established based on the independent risk factors and was compared with existing models. RESULTS: Texture of the pancreas, size of the main pancreatic duct, portal vein invasion, and definitive pathology were the identified risk factors. The nomogram had a C-index of 0.793 and was internally validated. The nomogram performed better (C-index of 0.816) than the other most cited models (C-indexes of 0.728 and 0.735) in the validation cohort. In addition, the nomogram can assign patients into low- (less than 10%), intermediate- (10% to 30%), and high-risk (equal or higher than 30%) groups to facilitate personalized management. CONCLUSION The nomogram accurately predicted POPF in patients having PD.

The calcineurin B-like protein (CBL)-interacting protein kinase (CIPK) plays a vital role in the growth, development, and stresses adaptation in plants by interaction with the calcium signaling. In this study, four full length cDNAs of CIPKs genes, namely DoCIPK1, DoCIPK2, DoCIPK3 and DoCIPK4 (GenBank accession No. KT957557, KT957558, KT957559 and KT957560, respectively) were cloned from the rear and medicinal plant, Dendrobium officinale, by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) for the first time. The corresponding encoded proteins, consisting of 473, 449, 451 and 440 amino acids (aa), respectively, with a molecular weight of 53.50, 50.93, 51.50 and 50.16 kDa, and an isoelectric point (pI) of 7.99, 9.25, 8.81 and 9.11, respectively, shared 70%-90%, 69%-80%, 78%-93%, and 66%-82% identities CIPKs with various plants. Each deduced protein contained a conserved protein kinase domain (respectively at 21 -275, 14-268, 16-271 and 12-266 aa position), a CIPKs family characteristic NAF/FISL domain (respectively at 335-391, 313-370, 310-369 and 305-362 aa position) and some functional motifs. The four DoCIPK proteins, without signal peptide or transmembrane region, were located in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum at the subcellular level. The three dimensional structure of the proteins were similar to that of Arabidopsis AtCIPK24. DoCIPK1 and DoCIPK3 were respectively clustered in the group E and A of the Arabidopsis and rice CIPK evolutionary tree, while DoCIPK2 and DoCIPK4 belonged to group C. The relative expression of DoCIPK1 showed no significant difference in the leaves and stems, and its transcripts in the roots was 0.35 fold over that in the leaves. The abundance of DoCIPK3 transcripts in the stems and the roots were 3.36 fold and 3.47 fold higher, respectively, than those in the leaves. DoCIPK2 exhibited similar expression pattern to DoCIPK4. Their relative expression in the leaves and the stems had no apparent difference, and the transcript levels were higher in the roots than that in the leaves, with 2.08 fold and 7.86 fold, respectively. Cloning, bioinformatics analyses, and expression patterns of the four DoCIPK genes provide a basis for functional elucidation of these genes further during the physiological responses in D. officinale.

Current treatments for cancer and the central nervous system diseases are limited,partly due to the difficulties posed by the insolubility,poor distribution of drugs among cells and lack of selectivity of drugs,the inability of drugs to cross cellular barriers and blood brain barrier (BBB).Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess many distinct properties including good electronic properiies,remarkably penetrating capability on the cell membrane,high drug-loading and pH-dependent therapeutic unloading capacities,thermal properties,large surface area and easy modification with molecules,which render them as a suitable candidate to deliver drugs to cancer and brain.CNTs as a drug delivery could achieve a high efficacy,enhance specificity and diminish side effects.Whereas CNTs have been primarily employed in cancer treatment,a few studies have focused on the treatment and diagnosis of the central nervous system diseases using CNTs.Here,we review the current progress of in vitro and in vivo researches of CNTs-based drug delivery to cancer involving CNTs-based tumor-targeted drug delivery systems (DDS),photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT).Meanwhile,we also review the current progress of in vitro and in vivo researches of CNTs-based drug delivery to brain.

OBJECTIVETo establish a detection method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for concentrations of volatile nitrosamine compounds in urine, and apply it to the test of real samples.

METHODSTarget compounds dichloromethane in urine samples was extracted with dichloromethane through liquid-liquid extraction, then the dichloromethane extract was filtrated, evaporated with nitrogen at 40°C to dryness, and the volume was set with 0.2 ml dichloromethane. Analysis of nine volatile nitroso-compounds were performed with GC-MS under selected ion monitoring mode, external reference method was used for quantification, and the detection limit, repeatability and sensitivity were evaluated. In addition, nine volatile nitroso-compounds of 92 urine samples in a town of Anhui province were measured.

RESULTSA good linear range of 2 - 200 ng/ml (with correlation coefficient 0.9985 - 0.9999) were obtained for the above mentioned nine kinds of analyte, and the lowest examination concentration was 0.05 - 0.50 ng/ml. The addition standard recoveries were 68%-102% with the RSD of 0.4% - 5.5% (n = 3). The detection limits were 0.001 - 0.013 ng/ml urine. The detection rate of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosomethylethylamine (NMEA), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine (NDPA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP), N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine (NDBA) and N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NDPhA) were 71% (65), 74% (68), 65% (60), 80% (73), 92% (85), 78% (72), 76% (70), 87% (80), 98% (90), respectively, with the results (0.27 ± 0.12), (0.75 ± 0.29), (0.06 ± 0.02), (0.16 ± 0.07), (23.66 ± 5.18), (1.01 ± 0.35), (0.38 ± 0.11), (2.47 ± 0.52) and (15.13 ± 3.48) nmol/g creatinine.

CONCLUSIONSA gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detect method was developed for low level volatile nitrosamines in urine samples.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Nitrosamines ; urine ; Urinalysis ; methods ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; urine

OBJECTIVETo investigate and summarize the experience in clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of portal vein thrombosis after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

METHODSThe clinical data of 402 patients who underwent OLT from January 2003 to February 2007 were reviewed. A retrospective study was performed on etiology, prognosis and treatment in 9 cases of portal vein thrombosis after OLT.

RESULTSAll of the 9 cases received anticoagulant and antiaggregation therapy, within whom one underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement, one underwent retransplantation after failure of thrombolysis therapy, and one received surgical embolectomy. Six patients died of multiple organ failure on 9th, 30th, 34th, 40th, 48th, 6 2nd days, respectively, while 3 patients survived.

CONCLUSIONSThe major risk factors of portal vein thrombosis after OLT were pathological changes in portal vein, abnormal blood stream dynamics, hypercoagulable status and improper surgical technique. Prophylactic intervention to patients with high risk factors, early diagnosis and aggressive comprehensive therapy on portal vein thrombosis patients are essential to improve prognosis.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy

Chordoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease Progression ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; analysis ; Neoplasm Seeding ; S100 Proteins ; analysis ; Sacrococcygeal Region ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; surgery

Objective To investigate the vascular effect of hydroxyl-safflor yellow A(HSYA) on rat thoracic aorta and its underlying mechanism. Methods The tension of isolated thoracic aorta rings of rats perfused with different concentrations of HSYA(1?10-6-1?10-4 mol/L) was measured using organ bath technique.The effects of HSYA on the vasocontraction induced by cumulative phenylephrine(PE)(1?10-6-1?10-4 mol/L),KCl(6?10-2 mol/L) and CaCl2(1?10-5-3?10-3 mol/L) were recorded respectively. Results HSYAcaused a concentration-dependent anti-contraction effects by KCl or PE in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortic rings.HSYA inhibited the CaCl2-induced contraction and downward shifted concentration-response curve of aortic rings.HSYA+HP resulted in more significant anti-contraction effect than single use of HSYA(P0.05).There were significant differences in anti-contraction effect between HSYA+RR and RR or HSYA(P